System and method for controlling home entertainment units with radio frequency and infrared signals

Abstract

A system and method for controlling home entertainment units with radio frequency and infrared signals. The system includes a computer, a display, an RF transceiving device, an RF transceiver and IR transmitter combination device, and at least one home entertainment unit. The system may also include at least one microphone which may be interconnected with computer via any known connecting cable, or which may be contained within the RF transceiving device and / or the RF transceiver and IR transmitter combination device. The RF transceiver and IR transmitter combination device receives transmitted RF signal data from the RF transceiving device and / or the at least one microphone, converts the RF signal data into IR signal data associated with the particular home entertainment unit, transmits the IR signal data, and controls the particular home entertainment unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for controlling home entertainment units and, more particularly, to a system and method for controlling home entertainment units with radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) signals.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]The popularity of electronic home entertainment units, such as televisions (TVs), video cassette recorders (VCRs), digital video disc (DVD) players / recorders, compact disc (CD) players, stereo receivers, tape decks, or the like, has provided an onslaught of remote control devices typically configured for use with a particular home entertainment unit. Such remote control devices are typically operated using IR signals carrying command codes that are internally stored in the associated remote control device. Managing a plurality of such remote control devices readily becomes burdensome due to device placement, device operational differenc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]It is an aspect of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a system and method for controlling home entertainment units with RF and IR signals for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

Problems solved by technology

Managing a plurality of such remote control devices readily becomes burdensome due to device placement, device operational differences, device command differences, etc.

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